Jubilee Home Solutions Shoddy workmanship on remodel of bathroom resulting in disaster Kansas City Missouri
In November of 2002, we contracted with Jubilee Home Solutions, after viewing their advertising Kiosk outside of Sears on the first level of Independence Center. They were to come in and put a new tub and surround over an existing unit that had no shower and wrap the surround around the window that was over the existing tub.
They were to pull all the old plastic tile off the walls (house is about 50-years-old), and remove the existing sink and place a new sink, medicine cabinet and install a 4-bulb light fixture over the medicine cabinet.
We were told by the salesperson that if we did not sign the day he visited us, he wasn't sure they could do the job for the same amount, which was quoted at $5,000. Like dummies, we signed - eager to have a shower finally, in our home.
Upon arrival and beginning of work, their worker found pipes about to burst requiring work that wasn't quoted - that was fine. After that, everything went downhill fast.
They said we needed new drywall where the old tiles were in the bathroom - fine - they put that up and molding - none of which was accurately measured and is crooked with a minimum of 1/8" spacing where there shouldn't be.
They placed the new tub over the old tub without putting a drain extension into the tub, requiring a plumber to come in about a year later when the drain pulled away from the pipe and began leaking. The original worker left the 30-year-old rubber seal on the drain and never went into the basement to be sure he had sealed everything up properly. He used silicone to seal the tub liner to the drain instead of the tub extension. He did not use plumber's putty. (It cost us $125 to have the leak into the basement repaired)
Within two years of this install, the bottom of the tub began to separate from the original tub, leaving the liner bubbly with a large crack appearing around the drain. Black g**k began oozing from that area. Additional miniscule cracks began appearing all over the floor of the liner, also oozing black gunk.
On March 30, 2005, we wrote to Jubilee Home Solutions after calling them to no avail. After the first letter, which included photos of the mess we had, they wrote a short letter stating that the one-year warranty had expired and they would fix the tub for $700 and offer a 60-day warranty only.
When they had originally completed the bathroom, the total cost was $5,559, which included the surround, the tub, the light plumbing work, installation of the new sink, medicine cabinet and light fixture, removing the old tiles and replacing with drywall and molding and installing a new floor remnant.
In breaking down the invoice, we believe they should have refunded us $2,000 for the bathtub disaster so we could have it fixed by a reputable company. They refused.
Now, 4-years later, we have found a remodeler who is currently ripping out the old tub and going to fix the mess. Since the 2005 letter, the tub has huge cracks in the bottom with gobs of black gunk oozing through each crack where we have to stand when showering. Because the installer put the surround straight to the ceiling, the moisture from every shower (a family of 3) went straight to the ceiling and caused it to mold, mildew and paint to peel away - all of which has to be fixed.
We also found their installer placed the 4-bulb light fixture over the medicine cabinet without mounting it properly and there is at least a 2 inch hole on top and bottom - he failed to mount it on a 2x4 and finish it off.
They told us they didn't need a work permit (they did) and they told us we didn't need an exhaust fan - we did and had to have one separately installed in 2003.
We've had no luck with the attorney general's office, NARI or better business bureau. No one has helped until we found this new remodeler who will fix it for us. The only satisfaction we can hope to achieve is this posting and the fact I now work for a newspaper and have published constant reports and updates on this company to alert others to this problem.
Lastly, we were informed by a local plumber that we were overcharged for the work that was done by at least $3,000 and that he has personally had to clean up Jubilee's messes in other homes.
What a mess and what a lesson.
Elizabeth
Lexington, Missouri
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Lina
Smithville,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Jubilee charged customers outrageously on the lousy service and work.
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, April 29, 2009
On the previous report, I didn't mention Jubilee charged us $7000 for a basic modeling of the bathroom. The work only includes removing the old tiles and replacing with drywall and and installing a new shower and a bathroom fan. They also did not remove the entire tile, as promised by the salesman. When I asked the workers, they said they did not have enough sheet rock to replace all of the old tile and sheet rock. They simple cut out the bottom part, where the water damage was the most noticeable. This is not what the salesman promised us.
There is also a soft spot on the edge of the new shower which was damaged by the old shower leaking. It was not until two days later when I noticed this spot. I realize this would have required additional work on the part of the installers since it would have meant installing a support to the next stud and then putting on the sheet rock. For the prices they charge this work should have been done.
They also used the cheapest material to do the work. Right now the cheap material they put on show a lot of dirty spots and we don't know how to clean off.
Until today, we still feel so regretful to sign a contract with Jubilee. They not only cheated us on the empty promise, but also charged us outrageously on the lousy service and work. We will never use this company ever again!